What is the Duty to Manage asbestos?

The Duty to Manage asbestos is aimed towards those who manage non-domestic premises. These are the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises (or use them in other ways), from the risks to ill health that exposure to asbestos can cause.

The Duty to Manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It requires the person who has the duty (i.e. the ‘Dutyholder’) to:

  1. take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in
  2. presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not
  3. make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos containing materials – or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos
  4. assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified
  5. prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed
  6. take the necessary steps to put the plan into action
  7. periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date
  8. provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them

There is also a requirement on others to co-operate as far as is necessary to allow the Dutyholder to comply with the above requirements.

For further information and guidance on your Duty to Manage Asbestos, please contact MSP Business Services on 08456 808304 or info@MspBusinessServices.co.uk. You can also make use of our online training for Asbestos Awareness.